The Berkeley Unified School District board discussed pressing community concerns during its Wednesday meeting, ranging from disproportionate suspensions of Black students, to fire season concerns in the Berkeley Hills, to the ethical investment of staff pensions.

In case you missed it, here are some highlights from BUSD’s most recent school board meeting.

Disproportionate suspensions of Black students

Black students—especially those in middle school—are being suspended at higher rates than their peers, Nicole Harris, of the BUSD African American Advisory Committee, told the school board Wednesday. She said the committee and families have reviewed data that shows Black youth are disproportionately being disciplined. 

The district implemented the African American Success Framework in 2019 to address disparities and systemic issues impacting Black student experiences and academic achievement in BUSD. The framework placed a focus on improving culturally competent teaching, college readiness, literacy, reducing suspensions, and creating opportunities for more engagement with Black families. Originally planned as a three-year initiative, it was recently extended for an additional year. 

Staff on Wednesday said the district has seen some improvements among Black students in literacy, math, and forming stronger connections to schools, but said more work needs to be done. 

“I’m trying to make sure my child and every other child in our district feel seen, supported and set up for success,” Harris told the board. “The voice you’re hearing tonight isn’t just mine. It carries the hopes and concerns of families who can’t be here.”

Suggested closure of Cragmont Elementary during fire risk

A community member urged the board to consider closing Cragmont Elementary during times of extreme fire risk. The school is situated in the Berkeley Hills, in an area designated by Cal Fire as a high fire hazard zone.

Mary Pat Farrell, a member of Berkeley Firewise, a nonprofit prevention and preparedness organization, spoke about recent high-fire-risk conditions in the East Bay, including high heat, low humidity, and Diablo winds, which have caused deadly fires across California.

The city released a report in July revealing that it could take residents more than four hours to evacuate the area, and emergency officials have encouraged hills residents to take a cautious, proactive approach, and evacuate preemptively when humidity and wind conditions are ripe for firestorms, a condition referred to as “extreme fire weather.”

Divestment campaign support for retired California teachers’ fund

The BUSD school board approved a resolution urging the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) to update its ethical investing policy to refrain from contributing “to military occupation and human rights violations around the world.” 

According to the resolution, CalSTRS owns billions of dollars in shares and bonds invested in companies that directly or indirectly support mass incarceration or immigrant detention, weaponry, illegal military occupation, and racial segregation, which stands in conflict with the organization’s values. 

The California Federation of Teachers, which represents teachers and classified BUSD employees, has also advocated for similar divestments at CalSTRS. Alameda County has been working on its own ethical investment policy after selling off most of its investments in Caterpillar Inc., a tractor and heavy equipment manufacturer that has come under scrutiny for its sales to the Israeli military. 

Berkeley High School staff, like history teacher Alex Day, attended the meeting on Wednesday to speak in support of the resolution.

“This is an urgent matter for you all to take up here in Berkeley, because of its legacy, but also because, in this time of international lawlessness, local institutions have to lead by example and stand up for international law when no one else will,” Day said.

Bus stop updates and after-school woes

Bus stop location changes this school year have caused frustration and extra travel time for many families. Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel announced on Wednesday that one stop on Spruce Street will be reinstated following community advocacy.

“Folks came out and advocated for that stop to be reinstated, and we were able to collect some data to actually reinstate it,” she said during the meeting. 

Ford Morthel said BUSD is working with the city and other partners to plan a town hall or community engagement to discuss transportation needs. District leadership said this is a complex issue involving safety, short staffing, and coordination with multiple city agencies.

Parents have also been scrambling to find after-school care one month into the new year. Enrollment in Berkeley’s after-school program is at capacity, with some families finding themselves out of a spot following increased efforts by BUSD to enroll more underserved students. 

BUSD said it is working to provide more accessible care for families and expand bus services for extended learning programs. Ford Morthel said the district increased capacity for transportation to non-BUSD after-school programs, like the city-run Shorebird Park program.